Sun 31 Dec

Lovely brunch with Hartmans yesterday here. Good to catch up with old friends, especially when you haven't spent time together for a long time. As soon as they left, we hopped in the Prius and drove down to Madison for a few things I wanted from Costco. Hit up Woodmans, Penzeys, and TJs as well. Had a nice Neapolitan quattri formaggi pizza and a beer at Pizza Brutta before heading home. Food: 8:05 am 100 g White Gull Inn coffee cake, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 30 Dec

Kind of a rushed morning to get to the Farmer's Market, driving, and home to finish preparations for brunch with Hartmans. Made a coffee cake and almond cake yesterday. Food: 8:05 am 3/4 c TJs Maple Pecan Crunch, 1/2 c skim milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 29 Dec

Bob is kindly doing the recall work on my BlendJet. My knee is protesting from two days of hard use with two Zumba classes, a hike at Schmeeckle, and Bootstrap. Not going to gym today to further exacerbate it. Food: 8:10 am Chocolate malt-o-meal, 1/2 c skim milk, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 28 Dec

Zumba again today! Looking forward to adding it to my regular Thursday routine. Shouldn't be a problem since it's at 9 am and Bootstrap isn't until afternoon. Food: 8:00 am 76 g cinnamn streusel coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 27 Dec

I'm excited because since Nicole isn't available for Body Pump today, they have substituted Zumba with Angel! I'm a little nervous that I may have trouble with my knees, but I'll do what I can and enjoy it. Food: 7:55 am 78 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 26 Dec

Had a Merry Christmas text from Laura in the morning before she left for Texas with her friends, and a lovely evening with a tired Michael and Taylor to close the day. Taylor was still a little upset with her dad for not inviting her to their family gathering on Christmas Eve. They seemed to really like all their gifts and the wild rice stuffed squash went well with their roasted veggies. Michael's chocolate cake was delicious as always, and he left us some! Food: 8:00 am Chocolate malt-o-meal, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 25 Dec

Merry Christmas! Laura is heading out for Texas soon for her recuperative vacation with friends. I cantor at 9 so I need to leave soon to practice with Amy Formella. Haven't taken time to practice the psalm which is rumored to be tricky. Food: 7:40 am 76 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 24 Dec

Christmas Eve is here! Feels weird that it's a Sunday and we're not doing brunch with the Hartmans til Saturday. We don't usually go to church on the morning of Christmas Eve, but it's the Fourth Sunday of Advent in a truncated week. I honestly don't remember this happening before, though I'm sure it must have. Food: 8:00 am 92 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 23 Dec

David messaged me on Facebook to confirm that he has been too ill with Covid to make yule logs this year, so we won't bother to walk to the market as there's nothing else I really need. Hope to make cookie dough this morning so we can roll out, decorate, and bake them this evening. Hope to organize Christmas presents and stocking stuffers today as well. Food: 8:05 am 124 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 22 Dec

Another mild day, though grey and gloomy-looking out there. Need to do laundry after Body Pump and possibly assemble the Christmas stockings so I can see if there are any lacks. Food: 8:00 am 145 g cinnamon streusel Bundt cake, 98 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 21 Dec

Temperatures have moderated a bit again, no real expectation of a white Christmas. Nice coffee with the Bootstrap buds yesterday, Erin even came towards the end to show us her painting she's been working on. We were able to get the gifting done first without undue awkwardness. Food: 7:55 am 104 g Costco cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 19 Dec

Dear God, please hold Nancy Sommerfeld in your tender care as she reels from first the unexpected death of her son and now the massive stroke of her daughter. It seems to mortal folk more than anyone could cope with. Food: 8:05 am Custard filled brioche, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 16 Dec

NIce trip to Madison yesterday afternoon/evening. Did some profitable erranding and had a lovely dinner at Lombardino's listening to the loquacious woman at the next table and her spoiled daughter. Having some frustrations at home with something that won't stop beeping at us. Bob is currently moving things around to try to eliminate possible sources. Food: 8:00 am Pastry cream-filled brioche, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 17 Dec

Cantored last night for 3rd Sunday of Advent, so we're using the free day today to drive back to Madison for a few last minute Costco things and dinner at Lombardino's. Got more good goodies from David and went overboard on treat things at Aldi's in a weak moment. Shall need to exercise restraint in how I consume them. Food: 7:55 am Brioche w/coconut & lemon curd, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 16 Dec

Nice time chatting with David at the Market. He agreed to make me a mini-Yule log next week. Remembered to get a stollen for Leone as well as another one for us. Was also able to get eggs, potatoes, carrots, and delicatas. Food: 9:35 am Brioche w/coconut & lemon curd, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 15 Dec

Christmas is encroaching quickly. Need to practice my music for tomorrow night's cantoring as some is unfamiliar. Food: 7:55 am 146 g Costco cinnamon roll, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 14 Dec

Supposed to be another fairly mild day, maybe even some sunshine. Just Bootstrap this afternoon. Pretty much finished trimming the trees yesterday (finally!) Michael and Taylor will come on Christmas in the evening for drinks and munchies after spending the day at her parents. Brunch with the Hartmans won't happen til the following Saturday, so not too much crazy preparation to do. Would like to plan some time to do the cookies, even if it's only Bob and I who mostly eat them. Food: 8:00 am Blueberry turnover, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 13 Dec

Should be slightly less chilly for the next few days, always welcome. Not much unusual on the schedule until I cantor on Saturday evening. Need to practice the music a bit, especially the verses for A Voice Cries Out. Food: 8:00 am Morning bun, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 12 Dec

Always nice to have a Tuesday with nothing more demanding than an afternoon massage to look forward to. Yesterday was quite busy with helping out at the Noel Hangar in the morning and OBT in the afternoon, so a quiet day will be appreciated. Food: 8:00 am Brioche bun filled with rum sugar?, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 11 Dec

Have to go to the Noel Hangar this morning and help Bootstrap finish up on preparing gift certificates for Christmas baskets. I wasn't available on Saturday when they started, but I said at that time that I would come Monday morning if they still needed help so I'm committed. Then OBT this afternoon, so a busy day. It may be difficult to get my steps in. Food: 8:00 am Custard filled brioche roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 10 Dec

Nice trip to Madison, getting used to our new Prius. Had a delightful lunch with a tired Hobbes and then did our usual erranding at TJs, Costco and Woodmans before heading home. Disappointed that my scale is up yet again to 150.2, but hoping it will come back down after a day out of town as it usually does. Food: 7:55 am Brioche w/lemon curd & chantilly, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 9 Dec

Nice mild day to walk to Farmer's Market to be greeted by David who was stationed right in front of the entrance. He had Dresden stollens, a couple of amazing brioche roll concoctions and some rum chocolate muffins. Currently enjoying a brioche with lemon curd and chantilly creme filling. Food: 9:00 am Brioche with lemon curd and chantilly creme, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 8 Dec

Second of two unseasonably warm days before more seasonal weather returns. Need to go to church tonight, otherwise Body Pump and laundry on the agenda. Tomorrow, David's holiday treats at the Farmer's Market, possible Norwegian goodies from Amherst Lutheran church, then visit Laura for lunch and errand in Madison. Food: 7:55 am Blueberry turnover, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 7 Dec

Supposed to have a couple of quite mild days today and tomorrow, upper 40s. A pleasant gift. Might try to get outside for a nice walk this morning. Bob got a cancellation appt yesterday so he was able to get his broken tooth extracted. He's recuperating with soft foods and taking it easy for the healing to commence. Hopefully he'll be able to get the bridge made before Spain. Food: 7:55 am 96 g cardamom coffee cake, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 6 Dec

Happy St Nicholas' Day. When the kids were little, I used to get little gifts to put in their shoes which they left outside their bedroom doors. Fond memories, though sometimes late-night runs to Target on Dec 5. I get a haircut from Cherie in her new digs in Park Ridge this afternoon. No longer the convenience of walking and returning library books after my hair appointment. Food: 8:00 am 98 g cardamom coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 5 Dec

Temperatures are a little more comfortable this week, getting warmer yet toward the weekend. Scale dipped down to 149.6 today; nice to be into the 140s. Will work hard to get farther down yet. Hoping to trim the trees today and rescue my couch from all the boxes and bags. Also want to get in a ride on the exercise bike, and one of the financial guys is calling at 1:00. Food: 8:05 am 104 g cardamom coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 4 Dec

Really nice trip to Door Co this weekend, except for the fact that we both seem to have come down with colds again. I'm not surprised about me, since my immunity was likely compromised by Tuesday with virtually no food and then abusing laxatives for my colonoscopy. Hopefully I can shake this one much more quickly than last time. Discovered a new supper club, finally got my burger from the Bayside Tavern, and found some excellent bakery and coffee at Fika for both breakfasts. The Christkindlmarkt was fun as always and we found some gift items at various places for Christmas. Scale up less than a pound for the endeavor. Food: 8:00 am 147 g cardamom roll, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 1 Dec

Off to Door Co today for Christmas market weekend. Still a little nervous about my bowels as I had a spurt of soft stuff in my undies when I was getting up from the computer to go upstairs to the bathroom yesterday morning. Still feeling occasional rumblings that could signal looseness. Taking extra undies and wearing a panty liner for additional security. Weight back this morning to the pre-prep level, but no higher so that's good. Food: 8:10 am 3/4 c Trader Joe's Maple Pecan Crunch cereal, 1/2 c skim milk, 114 g raspberries, coffee